Theatre festival in memory of Efua Sutherland

Accra, March 14, GNA - A theatre festival would be organised through out the year to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the late Dr Efua T. Sutherland, an international acclaimed writer and leader of the theatre movement.

A statement issued in Accra on Tuesday, said the festival would rekindle awareness in her incisive and path breaking contribution to Ghanaian culture, and win new audiences for her accomplished works of art reflecting deep passion and love for theatrical culture. "At a time where there is no genuine national concern about poor self expression in both Ghanaian languages and English in schools and within public life, the festival will for the first time make available the complete library of Dr Sutherland's rich dramatic works for use as a teaching resource in schools and popularised within the media", it said.

The statement said the staging of her play "Marriage of Anansewa" would also become a memorable event for all lovers of theatre, reviving the writer's passion and evocative writings and issues that preoccupied her. "This flagship production would be staged during the African Literature Association Conference in Accra in May this year", the statement said.

As part of activities for her memory, the Ghana Union of Amateur Theatre Societies would present a special season of plays by her in various community venues throughout the country. It said more societies, schools and religious institutions would be encouraged and supported to stage the works of Dr Sutherland and raise discussions around their significance to contemporary lives.